Though it appears that Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda will use a “plug and play” approach to compensate for the three starters who will miss Saturday’s game at Columbus, Thiago Almada’s absence will be the most difficult to overcome.
Almada, an attacking midfielder, leads MLS in goals (4), assists (4) and key passes (13).
There aren’t too many players who can be dropped in and do everything that Almada does.
“The creativity, I think. Technically, he’s very good,” Pineda said. “We have other technical players in the team, but the creative part. To see the gaps in between the backline, to play a through ball, to the creativity, to dribbling, but already knowing where is the next pass going, reading the game, adjusting in the last second of the play, where is the best pass, that’s the quality that Almada has.”
Almada, along with centerback Miles Robinson and striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, were called up by their national teams, so they won’t be available Saturday. Also absent because of national team call-ups will be fullback Ronald Hernandez, centerback Luis Abram and wingers Machop Chol and Derrick Etienne.
Pineda said it’s the responsibility of the coaching staff to prepare the next players to fill in to try to keep the franchise’s best start on track. He has the unfortunate experience gained last season, when the team was riddled with injuries, in trying to build a lineup from week to week to get results. He said he learned the importance of keeping the same systems and a clear understanding of tactics and roles so that every player knows what they are supposed to do. It’s something he said he learned as an assistant in Seattle under Brian Schmetzer.
“It’s always a good reminder for us coaches to understand our role as well and provide feedback to the players to have everyone together,” Pineda said.
There are three logical candidates to step in at attacking midfielder: Luiz Araujo, Amar Sejdic and Tyler Wolff. Araujo already ruled himself out, saying he is going to play his position on the right wing.
Sejdic normally plays as a central midfielder. He started the past two games and is forming a good partnership with Franco Ibarra and Almada. Pineda has said he likes Sejdic’s intelligence and ability to find pockets of space. Wolff, a Homegrown signee, hasn’t started in more than a year.
Araujo is among the candidates, along with Brooks Lennon, to take the free kicks that Almada has owned. Two of his goals this season were scored from free kicks. Pineda said he hasn’t yet decided who will take them. He said that decision will be made Friday. Araujo said Thursday that he doesn’t feel any more pressure to try to make up for the absences of Almada and Giakoumakis.
“We approach all the games the same,” Araujo said. “So we know we’re gonna miss the absences of Thiago, Giorgos, Miles, all the guys who are away. But this is an important game for us. So we’re going to treat it like we always (do) because it’s an important match.”
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
April 8 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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